Cigarette lighter



s R E G O R n E CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed Aug. 20, 1948 INVENTOR.

Patented May 30, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE CIGARETTE LIGHTER Eugene D. Rogers, Key West, Fla.

Application August 20, 1948, Serial No. 45,249

4 Claims.

supplied with liquid fuel by capillary action.

Such lightersusually include a cover for the upper end of the lighter or a cap member enclosing the wick to limit the evaporation of fuel when the lighter is not being used. However, such covers and/or caps are seldom, if ever, completely effective in preventing evaporation of the fluid in the wick, whereby evaporation takes place constantly and imparts an objectionable odor to articles carried in the users. purse or pocket, along with the lighter. For this reason, many people who would otherwise use such lighters object to them and refrain, from using them.

A. further objection to present-day lighters of this type is that when the, fuel supply becomes exhausted, the fuel container must be refilled from a bottle or can of fuel. Inasmuch as most lighters give no indication of when, the fuel supply is low, a user, is required to keep several cans or bottles of fuel at different locations so that the fuel supply can be replenished at almost any time. Thus, a user has to have a supply of fuel at his home, at his ofiice, and in his car, if he is to refill the lighter as soon as it becomes exhausted. Likewise, the user must carry a supply ofiuel with him; on extended trips, and thereby risk the danger of thesame spilling and contaminatingihis luggage with the fumes. Also, the fillingoi alighter of this type is generally an untidy job and frequently results in too much fuel being supplied to the reservoir for the same, whereby the flint becomes saturated and will not operate properly; Obviously, the manual refilling of the reservoir in this manner amounts to a fire hazard, as does: the storage of reserve supplies of fuel about the home or ofiice.

With the foregoing inview, it is an object of my invention to provide an improved pocket lighter of the class described.

A further object is to provide an improved pocket lighter of the class described wherein the fuel compartment of the lighterisadapted to contain a replaceable cartridge of fuel.

A further object is to provide an improved lighter which comprises a main fuel compartmentof relatively large size, an auxiliary fuel compartment. of relatively small size, and incommunication withthe main compartment, and wherein the wick is carried solely in the auxiliary compartment.

A further object is to provide an improved cigarette lighter such as that last described and wherein fuel is pumped from the main compartment into the auxiliary or wick compartment as needed, and thereafter returned to the main compartment until such time as the lighter is again used.

A further object is to provide an improved light- :er such as that lastdescribed wherein fuel is supby the striking wheel operating means for compressing the walls of the main compartment, wherebyto in'jecta measured amount of fuel into the auxiliary or wick compartment simultaneously with the actuation of the striking wheel.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the invention, combination and arrangement of the several parts thereof, the method or mode of operating the same, and will-be readily understood by those skilled in the art upon reference to the attached drawing in connection with the following specification, wherein the invention is shown, described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of a preferred form of the lighter according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a, longitudinal vertical sectional view of the lighter;

Figure 3 is, a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the fuel cartridge:

Figure 5 is an end view of the cartridge looking from the left. of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the fuel-expelling means, apart from the related structure;

Figure is. an enlarged fra mentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the planeof the line 1-! of Figure parts being omitted;

Figure 8 is an elevational view partly in longitudinal vertical section of a modification, of the lighter;

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 8.

Referring specifically to the drawing, wherein like reference characters have been used throughout the several views to designate like parts, and referring at first to the form of invention disclosed in Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, Ill designates any suitable lighter casing having a top wall |I mounting a pair of laterally-spaced ears or the like I2 between which is mounted any suitable or well known striking wheel I3 on a pintle I4. A wick cap I is fixed to pintle I4 for rotation therewith. The pintle I4 may have cogs fixed thereto which are in mesh with rack teeth formed on the front edges of the flanges I 9 of the thumb lever I6. Thus, with the wick cap I5 fixed to pintle I4, the cap will be swung upwardly to uncover the wick I'I, while the striking wheel I3 is simultaneously partially rotated to strike a spark from the flint I8. The structure just described is disclosed in Reissue Patent No. 19,023,

dated December 12, 1933, and forms no part of the present invention. Obviously, other suitable or well known means for accomplishing the same purpose could be substituted.

The top wall II of the casing is apertured forwardly of the striking wheel I3 for the extension therethrough of a wick I'I, Likewise, the

top wall I is apertured below the striking wheel for the extension therethrough of a flint I8.

The thumb lever I6 is formed with a. pair of depending and laterally-spaced flanges I9 which in turn are formed with laterally-aligned slots 20 through which protrude marginal portions of a nut 2|. The nut 2! is preferably circular and is threaded upon the upper end of a piston 22. The lower portion of the piston 22 is smooth and unthreaded and slides through the top wall II for the casing. Any suitable means, such as the grommet 23, may line an opening in the top wall II, whereby to provide a slide bearing for the piston 22. The lower portion of the piston 22 extends into a compartment 24 formed in the casing and defined by a vertical wall 25. An expansive coil spring is interposed between the cupshaped lower end 28 of the piston 22, and a recess 26 formed on the inner surface of any suitable closure 29 for the bottom of the compartment 24. An intermediate portion of the piston 22 is formed with a boss 30 comprising a down- 'warclly-directed frusto-conical cam. As best seen in Figure '7, the partition-providing wall 25 is formed with an opening 3| therethrough slightly below the boss 30. Edge portions of the opening 3| are formed with vertically-directed grooves 32 for a purpose to be apparent presently. The grooves or sockets 32 are formed in upper and lower marginalportions of the opening 3| and seat. the upper and lower ends, respectively, of pivot-providing pins 33 of a pair of levers 34 and 35. The levers 34 and 35 extend forwardly and rearwardly through the open ing 3| in the wall 25 and include forwardly-directed and relatively long lever arms 36 and 31 which extend forwardly into a cartridge chamber 38 of the casing ID. As best seen in Figure 3, the lever arms 35 and 31 are laterally spaced and aligned and are normally positioned closely adjacent the side walls 39 of the casing II]. The

levers 34 and 35 include substantially straight portions 4|! and 4| which extend rearwardly of the partition 25 into the compartment 24 in laterally-spaced and aligned relation. Rearwardly of the straight portions 40 and 4| the levers 36 and 31 are crossed and laterally outwardly ofiset to provide relatively widely-spaced free ends 42 and 43, respectively, providing abutments for a horizontally-disposed expansive spring 44. As is readily apparent from Figures 3 and 6, the spring 44 loads the levers 34 and 35 for pivotal movement on their pins 33 so that the lever arms 36 and 3'! are normally loaded in their laterallyoutermost positions closely adjacent the side walls 39 for the casing It. The straight portions 48 and 4| of the levers extend across the compartment 24 just below the cam 30 and on opposite sides of the piston 22. The nut 2| on the upper end of the piston 22 adjusts the height of the cam 30 above the straight portions 40 and 4| of the levers. Likewise, the nut 2| on account of its seating in the slots 20 provides a connection between the piston 22 and the thumb lever I6, whereby when the latter is depressed, the piston 22 is carried downwardly also. Such downward movement of the piston moves the cam 30 between the straight, portions 40 and of the levers whereby to spread such straight portions laterally outwardly and thereby move the lever arms 35 and 3! laterally inwardly toward each other. Upon release of thumb pressure upon the thumb lever I6, the spring 21 returns the piston 22 and thumb lever IE to the operative position.

The cartridge chamber 33 is closed at the top by the top wall I I aforesaid, and laterally by the side walls 39 and the partition-providing wall 25. The bottom of the cartridge chamber is closed by any suitable closure 45 which may be pivotally secured to the casing by any suitable pivot-providing hinge means 46. As best seen in Figures 2 to 5, inclusive, the cartridge chamber 38 is normally filled by a fuel cartridge 41. The fuel cartridge 41 has an external shape substantially complementary to the shape of the cartridge chamber 38 and includes sidewalls formed with grooves 48 receiving the lever arms 35 and 3l therein. Likewise, it should be understood that the side walls of the fuel cartridge 41 are relatively thin, whereby upon inward movement of the lever arms 36 and 31, the side walls of the cartridge are moved toward each other, whereby to compress the interior space of the cartridge in a well known manner. As best seen in Figures 2 and 3, the cartridge 41 is formed with a generally vertically-directed tube 49, the upper end of which opens through an upwardlydirected annular boss 53 formed in the top wall of the cartridge and adapted to extend through a complementary opening formed in the top wall II of the casing below the striking wheel I3. The flint I8 is slidable in the tube 49 and is normally urged into operative engagement with the striking wheel I3 by means of an expansive coil spring 5| in a well known manner. The lower end of the tube 49 may be closed in any suitable manner, as by the cap screw 52,"which is preferably counter-sunk in the bottom wall of the cartridge whereby to clear the inner surface of the closure 45 for the casing. The upper forward corner of the cartridge 41 is formed to provide a relatively small wick compartment 53, the top of which is provided with a vertically-directed collar 54 receiving the wick I'I therein, and which collar is slidable through" the opening aforesaid in the top wall l! of the casing. Such collar is positioned just below the closure cap I5 for the wick. The bottom wall 55 for the wick compartment 53 opens into a tubular conduit 55 which depends therefrom and which opens into the main fuel compartment 56 adjacent the floor of the cartridge 41. As is readily apparent from Figure 2, the wick IT is relatively short and norazsoaesi mally is seatedacross the opening connecting the wick chamber 53* with the conduit Thus, any fluid arising upwardly in the: conduitifi'. must of necessity contact the lower end ot the wick H and be drawn upwardly thcrethrough: by capillary action. Likewise, anyexcess. fluid in. the wick i l will tend to drain therefrom downwardly through the conduit Et into: the fluid chamber 57.

Inoperation of the device, when the thumb lever it is depressed, the piston 22 moves. downwardly and the camilftactuates the lever arm 35 and ti laterally inwardly toward each other. At the same time, the striking wheel I3 is rotated to strike sparks from the. flint it; while the wick cap $5 is elevated to permit the sparks to encounter the wick ii and light thesame, all in a well known manner. The inward movement of the. lever arms and 3? compresses the sides of the. cartridge l? and forces-fluid in the fuel chamber. ill; of the cartridge upwardly through the conduit lit and into the wick chamber 53. Such fluid movesupwardly through the wick ll, where by to form a gaseous mixture. ignited by the sparkfrom' the flint it. Upon release or pressure on the thumb lever 56, the reverse movement will occur which will create a lowered air pressure in the wick chamber 53 tending to suck any exces fluid in t e same and in the wick l'l downwardly through the conduit 56 into the main fuel compartment El. Thus, no liquid is retained in the wick chamber 53 save a superficial amount not withdrawn from the wick ll. Thus, evaporation of such fluid in the wick will be negligible and will not create an offensive odor in the users clothes or luggage. It should be noted, moreover, that the conduit 55 is of relatively small size, whereby evaporation upwardly therethrough is likewise negligible. At the same time, the conduit 55 is not so small as to permit a constant capillary action and flow of fluid upwardly therethrough and into the wick ll.

In the arrangement just described, the wick ll will normally be supplied with the cartridge d? and, if necessary, the flint i8, spring 51 and cap screw 52 may likewise be formed as part of the cartridge. However, these last-mentioned parts could obviously be separate as the tube G9 mounting the flint and spring is sealed from the interior of the fluid compartment 51.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a modified form of the device which is primarily adapted to be used as a perfume dispenser. In this form of the device, a casing 5t, generally similar to the casing [0, includes a hinged bottom it corresponding to the closure 45 and closing the bottom of a cornpartment for a perfume-containing cartridge l0. The top wall 52 for the casing 5i! includes a nozzle 53 threadedly engaging a vertical collar ll extending upwardly through an opening formed in the top wall 62 from the cartridge 1B. The collar H merges into a downwardly-directed dispensing conduit l2 opening into the perfume cartridge '19 adjacent the bottom thereof. Likewise, the side Walls of the cartridge it are recessed to receive the lever arms 36 and 31, only one of which is shown. The interior of the casing at is provided with a partition 65 which extends vertically and corresponds to the partition 25 of the first-described form. Likewise, a piston 22 is slid able through the top wall 52 of the casing in any suitable bearing 23. The upper end of the piston 22 is provided with a thumb piece 64. The piston 22 extends into a compartment 66 defined by the partition 55 and actuates the levers 35 and 31 in the manner previously described; It'cisobvious that. in this form or the invention, depression of the piston 22 wil1 resultirr compression of the: side wallsof the cartridge TH, whereby: a measured: amount of perfume? is dispensed outwardly/ of the nozzle 63'. through the conduit. 1&2 and? collar ll. If desired; the. enlarged upper portion of." the conduitlzz may contain. a wick or the like, not. shown, to prevent perfume from being squirted through the nozzle 63 violently.

WhilexI have shown and described whatiare now thought to be the preferred forms. of the invention, it isobvious that the same is susceptible of other forms. and. expressions; Consequently, I do not limit myself to. the precise structures shown and described. hereinabove except. as hereinafter claimed.

1? claim:

1. A fluid-dispensing device, comprising a hollow outer casing, a flexible walled'holl'ow cartridge receivable in said casing and adapted to contain a. fluid, a plunger extending inwardly of said outer casing adjacent said cartridge, 3, pair of interlinked lever arms in said outer casing, said arms: being operatively associated with said plunger, said lever arms spanning opposite sides of said cartridge, said lever arms being adapted to be actuated by movement of said plunger in one direction to squeeze opposite walls of said cartridge together, said cartridge being formed with a dispensing orifice, a wick operatively associated with said orifice, and means for dispensing a measured amount of fluid from said cartridge to said. wick upon each actuation of said plunger.

2. In a cigarette lighter, the combination with a hollow outer casing mounting a wick, a flint, a striking wheel and a thumb lever adapted upon depression thereof to actuate said wheel and flint to light said wick, of a hollow flexible Walled fluid fuel cartridge receivable in said casing, a plunger slidable in said casing adjacent said cartridge, a pair of lever arms pivoted in said casing and straddling said cartridge, said plunger being operatively connected to said thumb lever for actuation thereby, said plunger being operatively associated with said lever arms whereby to compress the same and said cartridge upon each actuation of said Plunger in one direction, and said cartridge including means for delivering a measured amount of fuel to said wick upon each compression of said cartridge.

3. In a cigarette lighter, the combination with a hollow outer casing mounting a wick, a flint, a striking wheel and a thumb lever adapted upon depression thereof to actuate said wheel and flint to light said wick, of a hollow flexible walled fluid fuel cartridge receivable in said casing, said cartridge including a relatively large main fuel compartment and a relatively small auxiliary fuel compartment, said auxiliary fuel compartment receiving said wick therein, a relatively small orifice providing communication between said compartments, a plunger slidable in said casing adjacent said cartridge, a pair of lever arms pivoted in said casing and straddling said main fuel compartment of said cartridge, said plunger being operatively connected to said thumb lever for actuation thereby, said plunger being operatively associated with said lever arms whereby to compress the same and said main fuel compartment of said cartridge upon each actuation of said plunger in one direction, and said main fuel compartment of said cartridge being adapted to deliver a measured amount of fuel to said auxiliary compartment in said wick upon each compression thereof.

'4; A liquid dispensing device, comprising an outer casing provided with an internal wall forming first and second chambers, a resilient walled receptacle mounted within the first chamber of the outer casing and adapted to contain a liquid, the sides of the resilient walled receptacle being spaced from the sides of the first chamber, liquid discharge means connected with the resilient walled receptacle and extending to the exterior of the outer casing, a reciprocatory plunger mounted upon the outer casing and extending into the second chamber and having a part disposed exteriorly of the outer casing operable to move the plunger into the second chamber, a

resilient element mounted within the second chamber and receiving the reciprocatory plunger between them, resilient means connected with the parts of the levers in the second chamber for drawing them together and serving to separate the levers adjacent to the sides of the resilient walled receptacle, and an enlarged cam mounted upon the plunger to enter between the parts of the levers in the second chamber to spread them, the spreading of the parts causing the levers to squeeze the sides of the resilient walled receptacle inwardly for discharging liquid therefrom through the liquid discharge means.

EUGENE D. ROGERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,900,684 Aronson Mar. 7, 1933 1,937,080 Bilde et a1 Nov. 28, 1933 1,995,899 Reilly Mar. 26, 1935 2,053,697 Cassanos et a1. Sept. 8, 1936 2,166,881 Voss July 18, 1939 2,477,398 Shatkin July 26, 1949 

